NYC has given New Yorkers a new reason to panic, encouraging people to create an emergency “go bag” containing everything they would need if they have to “leave home in a hurry” for reasons unknown.
In a tweet, the agency stressed that “every household member should have” an emergency go bag at the ready, just in case, “including kids,” and encouraged residents to pack nonperishable snacks, bottled water, and copies of important documents.
“If you have children, pack child care supplies as well as games and small toys,” the agency noted in an expanded list on its website.
The list seems to include everything but the kitchen sink, including a first aid kit and flashlight, cash, toiletries, portable cellphone chargers, aerosol tire repair kits, hand sanitizers and face masks for COVID (of course), and for those with pets, pet food and even pooper scoopers and plastic bags for poop cleanup.
The image accompanying the NYC Emergency Management’s tweet features a list of especially questionable items, including a Nintendo Switch and old brick Gameboy, books and school supplies, a puzzle, a teddy bear, beach ball, and even a rubber ducky for bath time fun.
Followers poked fun at the agency over the items featured in the list.
“When nuke [sic], bring teady bear,” one person quipped. “Few more items are missing: firearm, ammo,” another wrote. “My colostomy bag is my go bag,” a third person joked. “Nintendo Switch is what is important. I can go 2-3 days without water. But I can’t go 1 day without my Nintendo Switch bro,” another added. “No perishable items? Got it, packing a bag full of dildos,” yet another suggested.
Others expressed genuine concern over why the agency was talking about “go bags” after creeping everyone out with a video about what to do in case of a nuclear attack just a couple of weeks ago.
Others reminded their fellows of classic Hollywood movies on the fallout of a nuclear attack, including 1983’s The Day After and James Cameron’s Terminator 2, implying that a “go bag” would be of little value against a nuclear blast wave or the deadly radiation that followed.
“Umm…If you’re in a major city then don’t worry about the bag. You won’t be around to use it after a nuclear attack. A bottle of Breckenridge Bourbon is a better choice,” one person sensibly suggested.